Benefit for Ethan and Theresa Nowick Rideout

My friends Ethan (GHS '80) and Theresa Nowick Rideout (GHS '84) have really taken it on the chin in the last year or so. They have preferred to keep their difficulties quiet, so I won't be providing any details here. Suffice it to say, they can use a helping hand. People have been stepping up, but it's time for more outreach.

Some of Theresa's colleagues at East Meadow and Granby High School are holding a benefit on

June 14th

6:00-Midnight

The Polish American Citizens Club
South Hadley, MA 01075

Tickets are $15.00. There will be a Chinese raffle for various themed baskets and a larger raffle for either a big screen tv or Red Sox/Yankees tickets.

Thanks to Cindy Dec-Gaspari for finding out the information and putting in up on Masslive.

--Mb

Memorial Day: The Spirit of American Youth

My friend Ellen Pieciul or her husband Rich took this photograph on our school trip to England and France last spring. It is part of the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. died storming the beaches of Normandy. It really was this dark and foggy. We could hear the surf that day, but we could not see Omaha Beach.

--Mb

Venue Too Large to Hold McCain & Bush Supporters?

Imagine renting the Mullins Center for a fundraiser, and instead, due to poor ticket sales, holding said fundraiser in someone's home. Granted, the residence could be five times the size of my dog-eared, 1900 square foot abode, but then again I'm not a candidate for President and I don't have The Worst President Ever wrapped around my neck.

The McCain campaign had scheduled fundraiser with The Worst President Ever at the Phoenix Convention Center. But it didn't sell enough tickets. The protesters could have outnumbered those who planned to attend. So they moved a private residence. The Phoenix Business Journal reports:

A Tuesday fundraiser headlined by President Bush for U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is being moved out of the Phoenix Convention Center.

Sources familiar with the situation said the Bush-McCain event was not selling enough tickets to fill the Convention Center space, and that there were concerns about more anti-war protesters showing up outside the venue than attending the fundraiser inside.

Another source said there were concerns about the media covering the event.

Bush's Arizona fundraising effort for McCain is being moved to private residences in the Phoenix area. A White House official said the event was being moved because the McCain campaign prefers private fundraisers and it is Bush administration policy to have events in public venues open to the media. The White House official said to reconcile that the Tuesday event will be held at a private venue and not the Convention Center.

Politico reports that another fundraiser, this one in Utah, featuring The Worst President Ever and Mitt Romney, was re-scheduled to a private residence.

--Mb

More Bad News for McCain

Former Rep. Robert Barr (R-Georgia) is a bit of a nut. Part of the Gingrich Revolution that swept the Democrats out of Congress in 1994, Barr was about as far to the Right as you could go, "the idol of the gun-toting, abortion-fighting, IRS-hating hard right wing of American politics."

He also had what seems to be a kind of weird, hypocritical streak. A staunch foe of pro-choice, he evidently agreed to his wife having an abortion in 1983. A moving force behind the impeachment of President Bill Clinton's impeachment, he seems to have had an extra-marital affair with the woman who became his third wife. [See Wikipedia on all of this. It's a source entry.]

After the Democrats in Georgia redistricted in 2002, however, it was boom-boom out go the lights. Barr was replaced in Congress by a Democrat. Barr now is a Libertarian, a card-carrying member of the ACLU, and a third-party candidate for President. His hard Right views have changed with his party affiliation.

Barr is a problem for Sen. John McCain's candidacy. The Ron Paul Wing of the GOP is happy neither with The Worst President Ever or the man who hopes to replace him. Barr's effect on the race could be nil, but it's another issue for McCain to contend with. From TPM:

Barr is enough of a media darling that if he runs he'll get a lot of free media. And there's enough weirdness going on in the Republican party right now that I could imagine a few scenarios where he'd draw non-trivial numbers away from McCain. As always in these cases the place to look isn't in aggregate national numbers but in particular states where a drawing off a few points in one direction could make a state competitive where it otherwise wouldn't be.

At first glance you might think Barr could hurt McCain in the South. Some people have this idea that by spurring massive rates of voter turnout among African-Americans Obama could put some Deep South states into play. But this has never made sense to me. States like Mississippi and Alabama have big African-American minorities. But short of heroic levels of voter turnout, there just aren't enough Democrats in these states to win one of them. Certainly there aren't enough African-Americans to do it on their own. But perhaps if Barr could pull some Republicans away from McCain, some of these states could be in play?

Not likely. The regional and ideological calculus doesn't add up. One of the GOP base's biggest complaints about McCain is his purportedly insufficient GOP hackdom. Barr doesn't really do any better than McCain on that score. In fact, he's probably less hackish than McCain. So that won't be a good contrast. And in the South the Republican party is really about cultural traditionalism, race and war. McCain's got war covered; and Barr's against the Iraq War. So that doesn't play. And his civil libertarianism probably doesn't play well with cultural revanchists. (Barr was a pretty big culture warrior in the 90s. But I get the feeling that that's been overshadowed by his civil libertarianism. And regardless he'd probably need to keep it under wraps to secure the Libertarian party nod.) So at the end of the day it's really pretty rough sailing for Barr down South -- notwithstanding that he made his political career in Georgia.

--Mb

Back on the Blog

I've been under the weather since Friday afternoon. I'll begin posting again today.

Mark

Iraqi Moderate Changes Stance

Americans may think of Ayatollah Khomeini when they hear the title ayatollah, but Khomeini was a radical who more moderate Shi'ite leaders considered, at best, problematic. An ayatollah is actually Shi'ite "expert in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries" [Wikipedia]. A Grand Ayatollah is an expert's expert.

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini al-Sistani has a large following in Iraq as well as Iran. Al-Sistani has receives millions of dollars from followers and pilgrims to Najaf, which he distributes to students of Islam and to charity. There is no equivalent to an ayatollah in Western society, and there is no equal to him in Iraq. The radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, however, is presenting a challenge.

Ali Sistani has been a moderate in Iraq. When foreign fighters such as Al-Quaeda were slaughtering Shi'as, he called for calm and told them not to attack Iraq Sunnis. He pushed for elections in 2005 and pushed for the right of Iraqi women to vote.

Given Al-Sistani's gravitas and influence, it is very significant that he has issued a fatwa, or authoratative opinion, that says it is okay to use “armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible. The Wonk Room writes:

It’s difficult to overstate how essential Sistani’s support has been for the task of rebuilding Iraq, or how quickly the U.S. would lose what little legitimacy it still has there if Sistani were to indicate that U.S. forces were no longer welcome. If this report is accurate, it clearly indicates that he is leaning in that direction.

This could also represent the final nail in the coffin of the neoconservative fantasy of establishing an enduring military presence in Iraq, from which to project U.S. power throughout the region. The article notes that the shift in Sistani’s position “underlines possible opposition to any agreement by Baghdad to allow a long-term U.S. military foothold in Iraq — part of a deal that is currently under negotiation and could be signed as early as July.”

--Mb

Dadaists Strike at State Department

This is just funny.

From Nukes & Spooks:

There've been stories before about State Department career employees' unhappiness when an unknown Bush administration politico ordered historic diplomatic photographs removed from a hall leading to the department's main cafeteria. They were replaced with huge color glossies extolling the diplomatic feats of President Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and SecState Condoleezza Rice.

Recently, we are told, things took a turn for the worse. Outside the State Department's press briefing room on the department's 2nd floor hang large official photos of Bush, Rice and Vice President Dick Cheney. The pictures were, er ... modified by persons unknown. (We did not personally witness this, we must admit -- or we'd have a photo to post). We're talking fake mustaches and the like. The defacements were promptly cleaned up. They reappeared.

--Mb

DHG Article on Town Election

My pal Mary Carey seems to still be covering for Stephen Hill. Here's an excerpt from her article the on annual town election:

uesnel, 46, is the father of two Granby students and a project manager for a health-care product company. It will be his third term on the School Committee. He said one of the accomplishments he is most proud of is the extensive work the committee has done revamping school policies, some of which were 10 years old.

Krulewitz, 55, a physician, who will serve a fourth term on the committee, has a daughter in eighth grade and two sons who graduated from Granby schools. The major challenge for the schools is financial he said, much as the Finance Committee reported to last week's Town Meeting that Granby faces some financial challenges in the coming years, especially if the landfill has to be closed at some point.

--Mb

Now Who's Appeasing? Israel Negotiates With Syria

The politics of the Middle East is infinitely more complicated than we in the United States can imagine. The fact that we can describe ourselves, with at least some accuracy, in terms of red and blue states, gives you an idea of our relative simplicity.

The Middle East, by contrast, is riven by tribal, sectarian, and to a certain extent national differences. Tribal and sectarian differences usually trump national concerns. The greatest sectarian difference is that of Sunnis and Shi'a's. The actual differences between the two sects are less important to us that the fact that they have about as much affection for each other as Catholics and Protestants in Belfast.

To negotiate these differences, politicians in the Middle East have a variety of strategies, one of which is supporting terrorist organizations. Many terrrorist organizations, such as Hezbollah and even the Palestinian Hamas, endear themselves to their people by providing social and governmental services and attacking Israel. Although Syria has attacked Israel and supported terrorist groups, it is run by the Baath Party, which is distinctly not Islamist.

The good news is that Syria is now negotiating for peace with Israel, much to the chagrin of The Worst Presidency Ever. The NYT reports:

JERUSALEM — Israel and Syria announced on Wednesday that they were engaged in negotiations for a comprehensive peace treaty through Turkish mediators, a sign that Israel is hoping to halt the growing influence of Iran, Syria’s most important ally, which sponsors the anti-Israel groups Hezbollah and Hamas.

Senior Israeli officials from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s office and their Syrian counterparts were in Istanbul on Wednesday, where both groups had been staying separately, at undisclosed locations, since Monday. The mediators shuttled between the two. Syria and Israel have not negotiated this seriously in eight years.

Syria’s motives are clear: it wants to regain the Golan Heights, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, and to re-establish a relationship with the United States, something it figures it can do through talks with Jerusalem.

For Israel — which has watched the Palestinian group Hamas take over Gaza and gain ground in the West Bank, and the Lebanese group Hezbollah display raw power in Beirut — an effort to pull Syria away from Iran could produce enormous benefits. An announcement on Wednesday of a peace deal that gives Hezbollah the upper hand in Lebanon’s government probably added to Israel’s sense of urgency.

The American government opposed Israeli-Syrian negotiations because they feared that such a negotiation would reward Syria at a time when the United States is seeking to isolate it for its backing of Hezbollah and its meddling in Lebanon, Bush administration and Israeli officials said. The United States yielded when it became clear that Israel was determined to go ahead, they said.

The talks come less than a week after President Bush, speaking to the Israeli Parliament, created a stir by criticizing those who would negotiate with “terrorists and radicals.” Mr. Bush’s remarks have become an issue in the American presidential campaign because they were widely perceived as a rebuke to Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic front-runner.

Turkey, a Muslim country and member of NATO, is a close ally of the United States. It is also Syria’s neighbor and has an interest in securing regional peace.

--Mb

Housekeeping: Subscriptions

A few readers have contacted me to let me know they are not receiving Granby01033 in their email. This service, provided through FeedBlitz, is or was provided by signing up somewhere down in the right-hand column. If you have signed up previously and found the service not working, please sign up again. If this doesn't work, let me know. I'll find another service.

Did you know The Belchertown Sentinel is now on-line? I didn't, until someone on Masslive provided the address. Turley Publications must be saving a bundle on paper and postage by not delivering the paper to every household. The whole paper is there in PDF format. Check it out.

Mark

Citizen Seeks Another Town Meeting on Sewers

Lack of discussion was one disappointment with the April 28 special town meeting concerning The New Ludlow Road Area Sewer proposal. Although many residents came with a single objective in mind--defeating the project, discussion would have been helpful.

It's hard to fault anyone who doesn't need and doesn't want to pay for sewer hook-up. It's equally hard to fault people facing enormous costs associated with their failed septic systems and the decreased property value associated with building a Title V compliant septic system in a tiny yard. I'm not sure it is fair to force sewer costs on people who don't need a sewer, but I know it's not fair to hang those in need out to dry. That's why we need more public discussion of this issue.

The Belchertown Sentinel is reporting that " Some citizens recently expressed concern regarding this issue. Olivia Deprey, asked selectmen to consider another Special Town Meeting to vote on he issue, as she felt not everyone fully understood the project."

--Mb

SATURDAY: Church of Christ Tag Sale

The Republican reports:

GRANBY - One of the best things about the Church of Christ all-town tag sale is that "it turns into a giant party," according to Chairwoman Alice G. Stewart.

She came up with the idea seven years ago, and has been responsible for the event every year.

"I have about 30 people helping me," Stewart said this week. "People in Granby come to the tag sale and meet their friends who they haven't seen for a while. It's a social occasion more than anything."

--Mb

Israel Says Bush Administration Plans to Bomb Iran

Foreign policy should be conducted from a realistic point of view. Diplomacy and military action should be carried out when it is in the best interests of the United States. (I should say that I define American interests broadly enough to include making the world a better place for people in other countries). Invading Iraq, for example, did not further our interests in the world. It upset the balance of power in the Arab world, overextended our military, and cost far too much money. Attacking Iran would only worsen these problems.

For better or worse, Iran is both a model for and a present and future patron of Iraq. The closeness of their relationship can't be overestimated. An attack of Iran, which happens to support the current Iraqi government, would alienate the Shi'a in Iraq, who, by and large are not attacking Americans. Attacking Iran would motivate Shi'a to follow in the footsteps of Sunni insurgents in Iraq as well as radicals like Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The development of nuclear weapons certainly remains a significant issue, but it's unlikely that bombing nuclear installations, which are nestled in heavily populated areas, could happen without evern more significant civilian casualties.

Aside from worsening the situation in the Middle East, The Worst President Ever would leave the next administration with an even bigger mess than we have now.

The Jerusalem Post reports that the only barrier standing between the United States attacking Iran is formed by Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. TWPE, of course, denies they said anything.

The White House on Tuesday flatly denied an Army Radio report that claimed US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term. It said that while the military option had not been taken off the table, the administration preferred to resolve concerns about Iran's push for a nuclear weapon "through peaceful diplomatic means."

Army Radio had quoted a top official in Jerusalem claiming that a senior member in the entourage of President Bush, who visited Israel last week, had said in a closed meeting here that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action against Iran was called for.

The official reportedly went on to say that, for the time being, "the hesitancy of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" was preventing the administration from deciding to launch such an attack on the Islamic Republic.

The Army Radio report, which was quoted by The Jerusalem Post and resonated widely, stated that according to assessments in Israel, the recent turmoil in Lebanon, where Hizbullah has established de facto control of the country, was advancing an American attack.

Bush, the official reportedly said, considered Hizbullah's show of strength evidence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's growing influence. In Bush's view, the official said, "the disease must be treated - not its symptoms."

However, the White House on Tuesday afternoon dismissed the story. In a statement, it said that "[the US] remain[s] opposed to Iran's ambitions to obtain a nuclear weapon. To that end, we are working to bring tough diplomatic and economic pressure on the Iranians to get them to change their behavior and to halt their uranium enrichment program."

It went on: "As the president has said, no president of the United States should ever take options off the table, but our preference and our actions for dealing with this matter remain through peaceful diplomatic means. Nothing has changed in that regard."

In an interview last week in the Oval Office, Bush told the Post that "Iran is an incredibly negative influence" and "the biggest long-term threat to peace in the Middle East," but that the US was "pushing back hard and will continue to do so."

--Mb

Granby Heights Headed for Big Stink

A couple of months ago, I spoke with Board of Health Member Lee Lalonde about the septic system serving the Granby Heights. He told me the project was too big for our Board of Health to handle; they didn't have the training for it. The issue was now in the hands of the Commonwealth.

In the summer, the smell can get pretty oppressive, particularly for neighbors on Greystone Avenue and Oak Street.

Grace the Dog reports that condo owners are facing some tough decisions:

The 35-year-old septic system, which is already obviously incontinent, especially on hot days, could ``fail'' this year. A new one should be installed before the ground freezes, according to the engineering firm consulting with the Granby Heights Association.Cost of the project has been estimated roughly at $1.2 million. There are 76 condos at Granby Heights.

In a May 13 memo, announcing a question-and-answer meeting at 7 p.m. May 21 at the West Street School, the association's Board of Directors does not specify assessment or fee levels. Assessments would be calculated "proportionate to each owner's share in the Association,'' with a lump-sum payment up front.

Getting acceptable financing could be a difficult, if not insurmountable, "burden'' -- it could be hard to get a bank to provide a financing package that the condo owners would accept.The directors said that if residents vote to allow borrowing, it doesn't mean that the board will immediately turn around and shop for a loan. It would just allow the board to do so.

--Mb

America Destined to Live Like Europeans?

Good and bad times are often a result of just that: the times. Cities, for example, were a product of the industrial economy. Although many cities existed for purposes of trade, it wasn't until the rise of factories that people flocked to the cities for work. In the early days of industrial America, people needed to be close to their places of employment. By the 1950's, however, automobiles opened the suburbs for housing. By the 1960's, the urban exodus was gathering speed. The rise and fall of the American city was a result of the times.

Fifty years ago, gasoline was cheap, but even if price drops a little in the next year, we'll never see cheap gas again. And for those of us who commute, and lack of the option of public transportation, we're looking at some painful times ahead. He Who Must Be Read writes:

Long after today’s S.U.V.’s have become antique collectors’ items, millions of people will still be living in subdivisions built when gas was $1.50 or less a gallon.

Infrastructure is another problem. Public transit, in particular, faces a chicken-and-egg problem: it’s hard to justify transit systems unless there’s sufficient population density, yet it’s hard to persuade people to live in denser neighborhoods unless they come with the advantage of transit access.

And there are, as always in America, the issues of race and class. Despite the gentrification that has taken place in some inner cities, and the plunge in national crime rates to levels not seen in decades, it will be hard to shake the longstanding American association of higher-density living with poverty and personal danger.

Still, if we’re heading for a prolonged era of scarce, expensive oil, Americans will face increasingly strong incentives to start living like Europeans — maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but soon, and for the rest of our lives.

--Mb

Republican Article on Town Election

Sandra Constantine reports:

GRANBY - Voters today returned two school committeemen to office and elected a former member of the Housing Authority to a 5-year slot on the authority.

A total of 465 of the town's 4,330 registered voters cast ballots today, Town Clerk Katherine A. Kelly-Regan said.

Earlier she had predicted about 600 people would turn out to vote.

"People are so busy in their everyday lives and I guess they are happy with the way things are going," Kelly-Regan said regarding the low turnout.

--Mb